KIGALI, Nov 18: Rwanda’s tea output is expected to increase by 38 per cent to 18,000 tons in the 2006 crop year due to improved factory equipment, an official said on Friday.

Janet Basiima Kangaho, head of planning at the Rwanda Tea Authority, told Reuters the increase over the central African country’s 2005 processed tea output of 13,000 tons reflected a continuing repair programme.

“We have embarked on a programme of rehabilitating our factory equipment, which will enable us to hold more volumes of green tea in the factories,” she said.

Export earnings from the commodity are expected to increase to $32 million in the 2006 crop year from $22.6 million in 2005, Kangaho said.

Rwanda earned $19 million in the 2004 crop year after selling 12,500 tons of tea.—Reuters